Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms



Feb, 14 1950 c. K. WOODMAN ET AL 2,497,195

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING SOLES 0N SHOE BOTTOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.5, 1947 Napo/eon 5 Fer/and Att 0m 6y Feb. 14, 1950 WOODMAN ETAL2,497,195

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING SOLES ON SHOE BOTTOMS File 60- 3, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 2 B 2" A ey 1950 c. K. WOODMAN ETAL.

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING SOLES ON SHOE BOTTOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.3, 194'? mm 4 M A H s i o 6 M Z6 A w Hflfi Mm L [11 van 01 5 Char/esK.Wa0dma7z Napaleon ,5: Fer/and Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR, PRESSING SOLES ON SHOE BOTTOMS ApplicationDecember 3, 1947, Serial No. 789,380

21 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for pressing the soles of shoes, andis herein disclosed as embodied in a pad box useful in such operationsas sole-laying, direct pressure leveling, or cement sole-attaching.

In carrying out the aforementioned operations, and more particularly inconnection with solelaying and cement sole-attaching operations, it isdesirable that heavy pressure be applied to the marginal area of theshoe bottom and that a lesser pressure be applied to the area of theshoe bottom inwardly of the margin. By thus concentrating the maximumpressure applied to the sole around its margin the capacity of themachine is most effectively utilized, close fitting margins are obtainedand small irregularities of the shoe bottom are not transferred throughthe shoe to the sole to become visible in the finished shoe as mighthappen were as heavy pressure applied to the midportions of the sole asis required for obtaining optimum results along the margin. It is alsodesirable that the pad box be capable of operating on a wide range ofstyles and sizes without the necessity for making manual adjustments andthat a substantially uniform pressure be applied throughout the marginalportion of the shoe. It is sometimes desirable, however, that thepressure along the shank portion of the shoe be somewhat, greater thanthat along the forepart.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pad boxhaving the advantages outlined above. To this end and in accordance witha feature of the invention, the pad box includes a suitably formedrubber pad over which is i a resilient metal blanket so formed as toapply pressure to the sole of the shoe in a manner to accomplish theabove objectives. As illustrated herein, the blanket is composed of aplurality of metal bars extending transversely of the pad and having thecapacity for conforming to the lateral curvatures of the shoe bottom aswell as to the lengthwise curvatures. The bars are preferably stilf andpreformed to approximate the lateral contours of the shoe bottom and aresupported in contiguous relation by flexible means permitting theblanket to conform readily to the lengthwise curvatures of the shoebottom.

To insure the application of substantially uniform pressures to adjacentportions of the shoe bottom and in accordance with a further feature ofthe invention, the pad which underlies the blanket is of soft rubber orlike material and is confined on the top by the metal blanket and on allother sides by a supporting metal box.

, Upon depression of a bar of the blanket in response to pressureapplied thereon the rubber beneath the bar will flow, acting uponadjacentbars of the blanket to force them upwardly in such manner thatthe pressure exerted by the different portions of the blanket lengthwiseof the box will be substantially uniform. Pressure is concentrated alongthe marginal portion of the shoe bottom by this arrangement. Because thebars are capable of bending lengthwise, the bars bend upwardly beyondthe area of contact with the shoe bottom. The degree of bending dependsupon the ratio of the length of the bar under the shoe and the length ofbar beyond the shoe. In the shank area where the length under the shoeis short, relative to the length beyond the shoe, considerable bendingwill occur, and since the shoe bottom in this area has considerablelateral curvature, the bars will exert maximum pressure near the edge ofthe shoe. To augment this action of the bars, the pad is recessed alonga central portion in its upper face so that the midportions of the barsof the blanket are out of contact therewith. Consequently greaterpressure will be exerted by those portions of the bars which aresupported directly by the rubber than by those portions which bridge therecess in the rubber pad.

Inasmuch as the blanket is of sufiicient size to accommodate a widerange of sizes of shoes, those bars at the toe end of the blanket willnot be covered by the work except when the largest size shoe is placedthereon. To prevent excessive upward movement of those bars forwardly ofthe toe end of the shoe, and in accordance with a further feature of theinvention, stiffening bars extending lengthwise of the pad box areassociated with this end of the blanket, thereby preventing curling upof the extreme toe end of the sole which might otherwise take place andwould mar the appearance of the finished shoe.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novelcombinations of parts and details of construction, will'now be describedby reference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of one form of machineembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one form of pad blanket, embodying theinvention, parts thereof being broken away to disclose other partslocated therebelow;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a pad with which the blanket is adaptedfor use;

Fig. 4 is a section through the pad and blanket along the line IVIV ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section through the complete pad box, this section beingtaken along the line V-V of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a section through the pad box along line VI--VI of Fig. 2.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a pad box In havingtrunnions [2 (only one of which is shown) by which the pad box issupported for rocking movement in a yoke 14 of a sole laying machinewhich may be of the type illustrated and described in application forLetters Patent of the United States No. 2,459,845, dated Jan. 25, 1949,in the names of Thomas H. Seely and Lambert S. Linderoth Jr. Such amachine includes an arm I 6 supporting a crosshead I8 by which arecarried a heel post and a toe post 22. Carried by the heel post is aheel support 24 in the form of a last engaging plate, and a toe supportin the form of a roll 26 is carried at the lower end of the toe post 22.After a shoe S with an outsole O to be laid thereon has been placed onthe pad box It), the yoke I4 is moved upwardly to carry the shoe intoengagement with the heel and toe supports thereby to apply pressure tothe shoe bottom as illustrated in the aforementioned application. Thepad box ID will rock if necessary about the axis of the trunnions I2 sothat the pressure on the heel and toe portions of the shoe will beequalized. To eliminate unnecessary rocking movements of the pad box andto hold it, after the relief of pressure, in the position into which ithas moved relatively to the yoke l4 whenpressure is applied to the shoebottom, a detent 28 may be carried by the pad box for engagement with anadjacent surface of the yoke 14 to act as a brake against rockingmovement.

The pad box I0 includes a box or container 30 in which is mounted asoft, resilient pad 32 (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6) of material such as softrubber which will yield readily upon the application of pressurethereto. Whereas a solid block of rubber is illustrated herein it willbe understood that the pad may take other forms. For example, a :fluidfilled bag "of rubber or like material, or a bag full of sand or thelike may be employed. The upper f-ace of the pad 32 is preferablyprovided with a recess 34 which, as shown in Fig. 5,;is relatively deepin' 'that portion which is to underlie the shank portion of the shoe andis relatively shallow in that portion (Fig. 6) that is to underlie thefdrep'art of the shoe although the particular shape is not critical andmay be modified. The recess is wider in the forepart portion than in theshank portion and is shaped in plan as illus'tr'atedin-FigQ, the widthof it being such that 'it will lie Wholly within the marginal portionsof the smallest shoe Which is to be operated upon. The purpose of thisrecess 'will appear as the description "proceeds. The bottom of the pad32 may be flat but it is illustrated herein as being provided 111 itsbottom face with a recess 36 which underlies that portion of the pad onwhich the shank 'portion of the shoe will rest in the sole layingoperation. Fitted into the recess 36'is a metal block 38 which providesincreased rigidity for that portion of the pad32 above the block 38thereby to provide for the application of maximum pressure to the shankportion of the shoe.

Located in contact with the top face of the pad 32 is a metal blanket 40which is formed of a plurality of transversely extending stiff metalrods or bars 42 which may be formed of steel. The ends of these bars areformed with loops as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6 and through these loopspass flexible cables 44 which hold the bars 42 of the blanket inassembled relation. Each of the cables 44 has secured to one end thereofa collar 46 forming an abutment for the adjacent bar 42. Slidable on theother end of each cable is a collar 48 which abuts the adjacent bar 42and is urged toward the collars 4G by springs 53 surrounding the cablesand acting against fixed collars 52 secured to the cables. It will beseen that there is thus formed a blanket which is flexible lengthwise ofthe pad box, the bars of the pad being held together by the springs toform a substantially continuous surface. The bars are curvedtransversely of the blanket in accordance with the transverse curvaturesof a shoe bottom and the upper face of the pad 32 is similarly contouredso that the bars 42 are in close contact with the pad 32 except for thatportion of the pad which is recessed at 34.

Between those bars 42 at the toe end of the blanket 4s and the adjacentsurface of the pad 32 is a set of longitudinally extending stiff bars54, the forward ends of which are looped over a cable 56 and the rearends of which are bent and received in a transversely extending recess58 in the pad 32. These bars 54 extend rearwardly a sufficient distanceto underlie the toe of the smallest shoe which will be operated upon.These bars stiffen the toe end of the blanket 40 so that it cannot bendlengthwise of the pad as readily as that portion which is locatedrearwardly of the bars 54. It will be noted that the bars 42 do notextend to the extreme heel end of the pad 32 but terminate somewhatshort of it and between the rearmost bar 42 and the end of the pad 32 isa metal plate 60 which extends forwardly a sufiicient distance tounderlie the heel end of the smallest shoe to be operated upon.

As shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the pad 32 is cut away at 62 along bothsidw thereof to accommodate the cables 44 so that the blanket 42provides a relatively continuous smooth surface. The bars areillustrated as being circular in cross section and of small diameter butthe cross sectional shape of the bars may be varied as desired. Toprovide a sufiiciently smooth sole engaging surface a flexible cover 64is placed on top of the blanket 40. This cover may be of leather, rubberor any material suitable for the particular operation and type of workto be done. Secured to the sides of the box Ill a'nd'extending inwardlyover the marginal portions of the blanket 40 and the cover 64 are plates65 which maintain the blanket and the pad in assembled relationshipwithin the box.

It will be noted that the pad 32 is confined on its bottom and foursides 'bythe box 36 and at the top by the fiexible metal blanket 42.When a block of rubber or similar material is thus confined, andpressure is applied to one portion of it to distort itinwardly, thepressure is transmitted to the immediately adjacent portions of the padin a manner analogous to the transmission of hydraulic pressure. Becauseof this characteristic of rubber,'whena shoe is placed on the pad boxand pressure is applied thereto, unless the blanket is shaped exactlylike that of the shoe bottom, some of the bars 42 of the blanket will bedepressed before others exert any pressure on the shoe bottom. Thedepression of some of the bars causes the .rubber to flow whereuponother bars of the blanket will be forced upwardly thereby equalizing toa large extent the final pressure which is exerted throughout the shoebottom. In the absenceof the longitudinally extending bars 54 those bars42 which are located forwardly of the toe end of a shoe would be forcedupwardly a considerable distance when pressure is applied to the shoeand. would tend to roll up the toe end of the outsole. Since theforepart of a shoe bottom is relatively flat, extreme flexibility inthis region is not necessary. Thus the increased rigidity in this areahas no detrimental effect. It will be understood, however, that theblanket is capable of flexing at the toe end upon the application ofheavy pressure so that an adequate bond is effected between the sole andthe shoe at this portion thereof.

The bars ii are stiff, but are capable of bending under heavy pressureto accommodate the lateral curvatures of the shoe bottom. By preformingthe bars 52 laterally of the pad box to approximate the lateralcurvatures of a shoe bottom it will be understood that only slightlateral bending of the bars takes place during the sole pressingoperation to cause the blanket to conform to the lateral curvatures ofthe particular shoe which is placed thereon. By recessing the top of thepad 32 as at 34, the action of the bars in concentrating the maximumpressure to the marginal portions of the shoe is augmented. Furthermore,by shaping the pad as indicated in Fig. 5 beneath the shank portionthere is a tendency for the pad to bulge up along the marginal portionsof the outsole in response to the application of pressure through theblanket 43 so that closefitting margins are produced.

From the above it will be seen that we have produced a pad box which maybe employed for various sole pressing operations such as laying,leveling or attaching, in which the distribution of pressure alongadjacent parts of the margin is substantially uniform but along theshank portion it may be somewhat greater than along the forepart, andthat lesser pressure is applied to that portion of the sole inwardly ofthe margin. The pad box is capable of accommodating shoes of varioussizes and styles without the necessity of making any manual adjustments.The effectiveness of the blanket with respect to the action of the barson different portions of the shoe bottom may be readily changed by usinga pad of the proper shape in so far as recess 3 3 in the top face isconcerned and the recess 36 with the metal insert 38 in the lower faceis concerned.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for pressing soles on the bottoms of shoes, comprising asoft resilient pad, and a metal blanket entirely covering said pad, saidblanket comprising a plurality of stiff metal bars arranged inside-by-side relation to form a substantially continuous surface, saidbars being connected. together for bodily movement relatively to oneanother and also being each yieldable in response to pressure of a shoethereon to conform to the lateral and heigh'twise curvatures of thebottom of the shoe.

2. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a softresilient pad and a metal blanket entirely covering said pad, saidblanket comprising a plurality of transversely extending stifi metalbars capable of conforming to the lateral curvatures of a shoe bottom inresponse to the application of pressure to a shoe placed thereon, andmeans for supporting said bars in contiguous relation to form asubstantially continuous surface conformable to the lengthwisecurvatures of the shoe bottom.

3. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a softresilient pad and a metal blanket on said pad, said blanket comprising aplurality of transversely extending stiff metal bars shaped to conformsubstantially to the lateral curvatures of the iorepart and shankportions of the bottom of a shoe, and means for supporting said bars incontiguous relation to form a substantially continuous surfaceconformable to the lengthwise curvatures of the shoe bottom.

i. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a softresilient pad and a metal blanket on said pad, said blanket comprising aplurality of transversely extending stiff metal bars shaped to conformsubstantially to the lateral curvatures f the iorepart and shankportions of the bottom of a shoe, means for supporting said bars incontiguous relation to form a substantially continuous surfaceconformable to the lengthwise curvatures of the shoe bottom, and meansrendering one end of said blanket resistant to lengthwise bending.

5. A flexible blanket for a sole-pressing pad comprising a plurality oftransversely extending stiii metal bars individually shaped to provide asubstantially continuous surface conforming substantially to the lateralcurvatures of the forepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom, andflexible supporting means for the ends of said bars providing lengthwiseflexibility of the blanket.

6. A metallic blanket for a sole-pressing pad having a surface preshapedsubstantially in accordance with the lateral curvatures of the forepartand shank portions of a shoe bottom, said blanket having a slightlateral flexibility and great lengthwise flexibility.

7. A metallic blanket for a sole-pressing pad having a surface preshapedsubstantially in accordance with the lateral curvatures of the forepartand shank portions of a shoe bottom, said blanket having a slightlateral flexibility and great lengthwise flexibility throughout asubstantial portion of its length but being substantially rigidlengthwise of the blanket at one end thereof.

8. A flexible blanket for a sole-pressing pad comprising a plurality oftransversely extending stii'l metal bars of circular cross sectionindividually shaped to provide a substantially continuous surfaceconforming substantially to the lateral curvatures of the forepart andshank portions of a shoe bottom, each of said bars being formed withloops at its ends and flexible cables passing through said loops'andproviding lengthwise flexibility of the blanket.

9. Apparatus for pressing soles on the bottoms of shoes having a metalblanket arranged to engage the bottom face of the shoe, said blanketcomprising a plurality of stiff metal bars arranged in side-by-siderelation to form a substantially continuous surface, each of said barsextending across the entire width of the blanket, the bars being eachyieldable and also bodily movable relatively to one another to conformto the lateral and heightwise curvatures of the sole in response topressure of the shoe against them, and yielding means backing up saidbars and arranged to increase the pressure of said bars 7 against thebottom of the shoe along selected portions of the shoe bottom.

10. Apparatus for pressing soles on the bottoms of shoes having a metalblanket arranged to engage the bottom face of the forepart and shankportion of a shoe, said blanket comprising a plurality of stiff metalbars arranged in side-byside relation to form a substantially continuoussurface, the bars being each yieldable and also bodily movablerelatively to one another to conform to the lateral and heightwisecurvatures of the sole in response to pressure of the shoe against them,a soft resilient pad underlying said bars, and a rigid box engaging theedge and bottom faces of said pad to confine it while permitting it toyield to conform to the contour of the shoe bottom with said barsthereby substantially to equalize the pressure of said bars alongadjacent portions of the shoe bottom.

11. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, asoft resilient pad in said box having its bottom and all sides thereofconfined by the box, and a metal blanket in contact with the top face ofthe pad, said blanket being flexible lengthwise of the pad andrelatively stifi transversely of the pad.

12. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, asoft resilient pad in said box having its bottom and all sides thereofconfined by the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with thetop face of the pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of stiff metalbars extending transversely of said pad and providing a longitudinallyflexible supporting surface.

13. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box having its bottom and all sides thereof confinedby the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with the top face ofthe pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of stiff metal barsextending normal to the longitudinal axis of said pad throughout asubstantial length of the pad box and providing a longitudinallyflexible supporting surface for the forepart and shank portion of ashoe, and other bars underlying said first named bars along aselectedportion of the length of the blanket and extending normal to the firstnamed bars for reinforcing the first named bars.

14. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box havin its bottom and all sides thereof confinedby the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with the top face ofthe pad-said blanket comprising a plurality of stiff metal barsextending transversely of said pad throughout-a substantial length ofthe pad box and providing a longitudinally flexible supporting surface,and a plurality of stifi metal bars extending lengthwise of the pad boxfora portion of its length from one end thereof and providing arelatively rigid supporting surface at said end of the box.

15. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box having its bottom and all sides thereof confinedby the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with the top face ofthe pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of transversely extendingstiff metal bars shaped to conform to the lateral curvatures of theforepart and shank portions of the sole of a shoe and connected to forma substantially continuous surface conformable to the lengthwisecurvatures of the shoe bottom.

16. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box having its bottom and all sides thereof confinedby the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with the top face ofthe pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of transversely extendingstiff metal bars shaped to conform to the lateral curvatures of theforepart and shank portions of the sole of a shoe and connected to forma substantially continuous surface conformable to the lengthwisecurvatures of the shoe bottom, and means for rendering a selectedportion of said blanket resistant to lengthwise bending.

17. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box having its bottom and all sides thereof confinedby the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with the top face ofthe pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of transversely extendingstiff metal bars shaped to conform to the lateral curvatures of theforepart and shank portions of the sole of a shoe and connected to forma substantially continuous surface conformable to the lengthwisecurvatures of the shoe bottom, and means rendering one end of saidblanket reeistant to lengthwise bending.

18. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box and having its bottom and all sides thereofconfined by the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with thetop face of the pad, said pad having a depression in its central portionbridged by said blanket.

19. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box and having its bottom and all sides thereofconfined by the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with thetop face of the pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of trans-X61851}? extending stiif metal bars shaped to conform to the lateralcurvatures of the forepart and shank portions of the sole of a shoe andconnected to form a substantially continuous surface conformable to thelengthwise curvatures of the shoe bottom, the top surface of said padhaving a contour similar to that of the blanket but having a depressionin its central portion bridged by said bars.

20. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box and having its bottom and all sides thereofconfined by the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with thetop face of the pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of trans- 4versely extending stiff metal bars shaped to conform to the lateralcurvatures of the forepart and shank portions of the sole of a shoe andconnected to form a substantially continuous surface conformable to thelengthwise curvatures of the shoe bottom, the top surface of said padhaving a contour similar to that of the blanket but having a depressionin that portion which underlies the shank and forepart of a shoe on theblanket, said depression being narrow at one end and wider at the otherend and being bridged by the bars.

21. Apparatus for pressing soles on shoe bottoms comprising a pad box, arubber pad in said box and having its bottom and all sides thereofconfined by the box, and a flexible metal blanket in contact with thetop face of the pad, said blanket comprising a plurality of transverselyextending stiff metal bars shaped to conform to the lateral curvaturesof the fore- 75 part and shank portions of the sole of a shoe 10 andconnected to form a substantially continuous REFERENCES CITED surfaceconformable to the lengthwise curvatures o of the shoe bottom, the topsurface of said pad 2 ggi ig are of record m the having a contoursimilar to that of the blanket but having a depression in that portionwhich I UNITED STATES PATENTS underlies the shank and forepart of a shoeon Number Name Date the blanket, said depression being narrow and1,725,103 Ray 20, 1929 deep at that portion which underlies the shank1966103 Fotz July 10, 1934 and wider and shallow in that portion which1,970,259 Fotz 14 1934 underlies the forepart of a shoe on the blanket,10 1102583 Finn Dec. 21, 1937 said depression being bridged by saidbars.

CHARLES K. WOODMAN. NAPOLEON S. FERLAND.

